Follow this link to skip to the main content

About Saturn & Its Moons

left blue corner of a tab Introduction right blue side of a tab left blue side of a tab Why Study Magnetospheres? right blue side of a tab left blue side of a tab Recent Discoveries right blue side of a tab left blue side of a tab Science Objectives right blue side of a tab left blue side of a tab Publications right blue side of a tab

Magnetosphere - Recent Discoveries - Ring Atmosphere and Ionosphere

Two instruments that measure characteristics of magnetospheric plasma, the Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) and the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) discovered a previously undetected ionosphere and atmosphere associated with Saturn's rings.

Due to sunlight or bombardment by energetic ions, electrons, and neutral atoms, a cloud of water products is produced above the main rings.